Merging multi-source information in a television system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a scheme for merging television schedule information received from multiple sources (26, 28, 30 and 34). In the preferred embodiment, a microprocessor (36) mixes and sorts the schedule information received from multiple source devices (26, 28, 30 or 34). The schedule information is then displayed in a television schedule guide (50). A user can select a program (60 or 62) by pointing to that program in the displayed schedule information (50). The system (10) then carries out an automatic switching/tuning such that the required source device (26, 28, 30 or 34) is input to the destination device (22), and a tuner is then tuned to the selected program&#39;s channel (52).

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/623,429 filed Mar. 28,1996, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/424,861 filed Apr. 17, 1995now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,576, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art includes several arrangements for presenting informationassociated with a television schedule guide. This information is oftenused to provide an on-screen grid-like display of the available channelsalong with their related television shows. Usually, a list of availablechannels are displayed on the y-axis and time slots occupy the x-axis.These listed channels can appear sequentially or in any preferred,predetermined order within the display on the television. U.S. Pat. No.5,353,121 is representative of such systems, and has found wide successin the industry. U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,121 is hereby incorporated byreference.

Many different transmission schemes are available for providing theinformation required for a television schedule guide. For example, aDirect Broadcast Satellite System (DBS) can provide television programsand television program schedule information via a satellite dish inconjunction with a set-top receiver. DBS systems are commerciallyavailable from, for example, Hughes and Primestar. In addition,conventional satellite dishes, coax cable, telephone lines, fibre opticcable, antennae, etc. are used to distribute television program and/orprogram schedule information.

If DBS is subscribed to by a user, then a separate IRD (integratedreceiving decoder) box with an on-screen display generator is usuallyprovided. An IRD box usually includes a receiver and a tuner at the mostbasic level. A DBS subscriber receives access to potentially hundreds oftelevision channels along with a program guide provided/controlled bythe DBS service provider. Unfortunately, a DBS system normally does notreceive local network or local independent channels. In order to providethese missing local channels, some DBS receivers are capable ofautomatically switching between the DBS satellite input and a localinput. This is accomplished by placing the IRD box between thetelevision (or a VCR connected to the television) and the local line(local cable or local antennae). When a local channel is selected by theuser, the IRD box automatically removes DBS from service and becomes abypass for the local input. A user can select a local channel eithermanually or with a remote control. Access to locally available channelsis crucial because the majority of prime time viewing is on those localnetworks.

In contrast, if a user is receiving television channels from both cableand a local antenna sources, then the scenario is different. If theuser's television has multiple television input ports, then these twosources can easily be attached to the two input ports. This solutionworks well as long as the number of sources does not become greater thanthe number of television input ports.

If the user's television does not have multiple inputs, then a manualswitch box attached to the multiple sources and to the television inputcan be utilized. This solution forces the user to manually switchbetween one source and another depending on which channel is desired.For example, if the user wants the local news, which is available fromthe local antennae, and the switch is set to cable, then the user mustmanually switch from cable to the local antenna. In a society filledwith remote controls and automation, this solution is unacceptable tomany consumers. Moreover, manually switching between channels becomesmore complicated as the number of channel sources is increased.

While the IRD box, multiple television input ports, manual switchingunit, etc. provide non-automated and sometimes partial solutions to theabove-described problems, a more versatile technique is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the preferred embodiment, the present invention is directed tocoordinating input signals and program information, and moreparticularly to (1) coordinating television schedule guide informationreceived from multiple sources, (2) automatically switching to a desiredsignal source, and (3) tuning to a desired television program. Thus, thepresent invention provides a tuning scheme which coordinates televisionschedule guide information. This information can be received fromnumerous sources. These sources include an incoming cable line (e.g., ona coax cable), satellite broadcasts, a dedicated telephone line (e.g.,twisted pair), and any other medium capable of transmitting a signal.

The present invention provides a method of merging channel guideinformation in a television system. This method includes the receivingand storing of channel guide information. The channel guide informationis received from multiple television signal sources. After receivingthis channel guide information, the system mixes and sorts it into adesired order. Finally, a display of this channel guide information isgenerated and then shown on a television in the desired order.

These and other advantages will become apparent to those skilled in thisart upon a reading of the following detailed description of theinvention, which should be taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a block diagram of a multi-source television program andtelevision schedule guide system with multiple sources connecteddirectly to the television;

FIG. 1b is a block diagram of a multi-source television program andtelevision schedule guide system with the multiple sources connecteddirectly to the coordinator;

FIG. 1c is a block diagram of a television program and televisionschedule guide system with DBS and cable as source devices;

FIG. 1d is a block diagram of a television program and television guidesystem which has DBS, the coordinator, and the television tuner allwithin the same IRD box;

FIG. 2 is an example of an on-screen display of a schedule grid guidethat has been assembled from the television guide information;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary process flow chart for automatic tuning; and

FIG. 4 is an exemplary process flow chart for automatic, unattendedrecording.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a tuning scheme which coordinatestelevision programs and television schedule guide information. Thistelevision schedule guide information can be received from numeroussources. As stated above, these sources include an incoming cable line(e.g., on a coax cable), satellite broadcasts, a dedicated telephoneline (e.g., twisted pair), and any other medium capable of transmittinga signal. In the preferred embodiment, television channel broadcasts arereceived from at least two separate sources such as (1) cable and asatellite dish, or (2) two different satellites, or (3) local cable andDBS sources. The schedule information is provided with a sourceidentifier which identifies that schedule information as being from aparticular source. The schedule information is sorted and displayed inan organized fashion to the user.

When a user selects a show or channel located on one of the displayedchannels within a displayed guide, the system reads the sourceidentifier associated with that show or channel. In the preferredembodiment, the system then carries out an automatic switching/tuningprocess that switches the input to the television (either RF or video)to a source device. Source devices include DBS, cable box, televisiontuner, etc. The system then tunes to the required channel for thedesired show. Additionally, the source identifier can be utilized toswitch between various devices automatically when unattended VCRprogramming is desired. Furthermore, when program information isreceived from multiple satellite sources and a desired channel isselected, the present invention can, in one embodiment, automaticallymove the customer's satellite dish such that the customer receives thedesired program from the associated source. The present invention thentunes to the correct channel.

In creating a merged television guide, a channel map is created whichidentifies the channels available on the multiple sources, andidentifies their source. For example, in the case of DBS/local channelimplementations, a channel map is created with both local cable and DBSchannels merged. The local channels and the DBS channels are tagged witha source identifier. When the user/consumer selects a non-DBS channelfrom the guide, the integrated receiver decoder unit (IRD box) for thesatellite switches the IRD to couple the local cable to the receiver.The system then tunes the television tuner or other tuning device to therequired channel. If a DBS channel is later selected, the systemswitches the IRD to couple the satellite receiver/decoder to thereceiver. The system then tunes the DBS tuner to the selected DBSchannel. In the case of, for example, cable and antenna inputs, thesystem switches to the correct video input and then tunes the televisiontuner to the required channel for receiving the selected source. Thus,automatic access to multi-source television schedule guide informationis provided.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the user can utilize thesystem to switch between destination devices. For example,information/programs received from one of the multiple sources could bedisplayed on a computer screen or played on a stereo. Additionally,several destination devices can be used in conjunction with each other.For example, an FM radio station playlist could be shown on a computermonitor or television display, and the songs selected from that playlistcould be later recorded on an audio recorder. Still further, the systemcould be used to couple audio TV outputs to a stereo system. Thus, thepresent invention is not limited to television systems.

FIG. 1a illustrates in simplified form an example of a multi-sourcetelevision schedule guide system 10 with multiple sources connecteddirectly to a television 22. As shown, multi-source television programand television schedule guide system 10 operates under the control ofcoordinator 20. Television 22 and VCR 24 are provided with input fromcable box 26 and IRD box 28. Other inputs 30 may also be supplied to thetelevision 22 and/or VCR 24. A remote control 32 is used by a viewer totune the television and conduct other operations. In this embodiment,cable is provided via cable box 26, and DBS is provided via IRD box 28.Antennae 34 on television 22 may be used as an additional source oftelevision broadcasts along with cable box 26, IRD box 28, and otherinputs 30. In one typical embodiment, antenna 34 and cable box 26 are"local" sources. Other inputs 30 can include multiple satellite sources.When multiple satellite sources are present, coordinator 20 switchesbetween the available satellite sources by automatically moving theuser's satellite dish or switching between satellite dishes. In order toautomatically move the satellite dish, a memory within IRD box 28 tracksthe position of the DBS satellite dish in relation to satellite sourceswhich are available via the DBS satellite dish. The IRD box 28 thenautomatically positions the DBS satellite dish such that the desiredsatellite source is received by the IRD box 28.

Coordinator 20 includes processor (CPU) 36 and memory (RAM) 38. Thecoordinator is connected to and controls infrared (IR) emitter(s) 40. IRreceiver 39 is connected to coordinator 20 and receives input from theremote. IR emitter(s) 40 can be replaced by, for example, a businterface or an RF transmitter. The IR emitter(s) 40 controls one ormore of IRD box 28, television 22, VCR 24, cable box 26, and otherinputs 30. Thus, IR emitter 40 acts as a remote control device byemulating remote control signals of television 22, VCR 24, cable box 26,and/or other devices. Because coordinator 20 has the ability to simulatea remote controller, coordinator 20 can be placed in the cable box 26,VCR 24, television 22, stand alone unit 20, or a satellite receiver.

Remote control 32 is a hand-held remote controller for controllingcoordinator 20. In the preferred embodiment, remote control 32 isprovided with an IR transmitter which controls the coordinator via IRreceiver 39. Other remote controls, not shown in FIG. 1a, can be usedfor manually controlling television 22, VCR 24, cable box 26, IRD box28, and other inputs 30. Although, in a preferred embodiment,coordinator 20 performs all the necessary control functions of thesystem. In a preferred embodiment, remote 32 works with coordinator 20and emitter 40 to control the various devices in FIG. 1a. For example,as the user adjusts the volume control on remote 32, coordinator 20emits signals through IR emitter 40 to adjust the volume in television22.

IRD box 28 receives television programs along with other informationvia, in one embodiment, satellite dish 29. IRD box 28 then providesprogram schedule information to the system. The schedule information isadded to the transmitted signal by the DBS service provider or a companyunder contract. Examples of DBS service providers include Direct TV andUSSB. This program schedule information (or guide) may also include achannel map that contains the channel information which is available ona particular source. Information associated with the DBS guide is savedin the IRD box receiver's RAM 42 or downloaded. Similarly, program guideinformation can be received through cable box 26, other inputs 30,antennae 34, and/or through any other transmission medium (e.g.,dedicated twisted pair telephone line). Each of these sources may alsobe provided with television schedule data within the signal transmittedby the service provider.

Coordinator 20 finds and sorts the program guide information availablein system 10. In order to receive the required television guideinformation, coordinator 20 is connected to the source(s) of thisinformation. For example, if the channel map information is provided bya dedicated twisted pair telephone line, then that telephone line isinput 43 to coordinator 20. Guide information can be provided from anycommercially available medium and can apply to all or several of theavailable sources. In the preferred embodiment, television guideinformation is provided via the vertical blanking interval on anavailable television channel. In FIG. 1a, the source devices along withcoordinator 20 are coupled to television 22. Thus, coordinator 20receives the program guide information via telephone line 43, andtelevision 22 receives the television programs from the multiplesources. In addition, television 22 receives the program guideinformation from coordinator 20.

In another embodiment of the present invention, coordinator 20 receivesall the source device inputs directly. FIG. 1b is a block diagram of amulti-source television program and television schedule guide systemwith the multiple sources connected directly to the coordinator. In thisembodiment, coordinator 20 switches between the multiple sources 26, 28and 30 and then outputs the information from the desired source totelevision 22 or to another destination device. This arrangement allowsfor a single input to television 22. Coordinator 20 inputs program guideinformation along with television programs to television 22 via line 44or through VCR 24 via lines 45 and 46. Other possible destinationdevices for the present invention are computer monitors, audiorecorders, facsimile machines, printers, memory, etc.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, DBS (via IRD box 28)and cable (via cable box 26) are source devices which are connected inseries to television 22. FIG. 1c is a block diagram of a televisionprogram and television schedule guide system with DBS and cable assource devices. In this arrangement, the coordinator is located withinIRD box 47, and no IR emitter is needed. IRD box 47 inputs to television22 directly or through VCR 24. When DBS is removed from service by thecoordinator within IRD box 47, cable box 26 inputs to television 22.

FIG. 1d is a block diagram of a television program and television guidesystem which has DBS, the coordinator, and the television tuner allwithin the same IRD box. In this additional embodiment, no cable sourceis present, and DBS, the coordinator and the television tuner are alllocated within IRD box 48. Thus, no emitter is needed. The coordinatorswitches between DBS and other available source(s) received on line 49.After the coordinator has switched and tuned to the desired channel, (asdescribed below) that channel is displayed on television display 23 orrecorded by VCR 24. The VCR set forth in FIGS. 1a-1d is optional.Additionally, the DBS receiver and tuner could be located within thetelevision or the VCR.

Various formats can be used for the television schedule information. Forexample, data packets comprising a header section and informationsection can be received and sorted with other, more complex data packetformats. In the preferred embodiment, coordinator 20 takes thetelevision schedule information from the available source(s) or a datainput line and sorts/mixes it. For example, coordinator 20 may receiveprogram schedule information via the vertical blanking interval in atelevision channel or via a transponder of DBS.

In order to sort/mix the available schedule information, coordinator 20first creates a structured framework and then saves the received data inthat structured framework. This structure framework includes severallevels for organized data storage. After the levels of the framework areprepared by coordinator 20, pointers are utilized to save data withinappropriate levels of the structure.

In an alternative arrangement, the sorting/mixing of program scheduleinformation is done in a separate location and then provided to system10, for example, on a satellite channel. Thus, program scheduleinformation, which has already been mixed, sorted, organized, etc., isreceived in a format which is ready for immediate display. Less memoryis required within the coordinator in this latter situation because onlythe screen/grid being viewed needs to be saved. For example, in thislatter situation, if a user wishes to view a grid guide which is fourhours long, only four hours worth of information needs to be savedwithin RAM 38. This ready-for-immediate-display format can also beprovided in a separate data stream via a different medium or on atelevision channel.

FIG. 2 is an example of an on-screen display of a schedule grid guidethat has been assembled from the television guide information. The gridguide of the present invention also refers to and includes theme guides,channel guides, and other guides which display program information. Inthe preferred embodiment, after coordinator 20 has collected and sortedall the available program guide information, coordinator 20 generatesthe grid guide set forth in FIG. 2 for display on television 22. Thisgrid guide can also be generated within the IRD box, a satellitereceiver, the television, the VCR, a central office location, etc. Thegrid guide, designated generally with the reference numeral 50, providesa line up of all channels or a selection of channels 52 along with adescription of the shows 54 available on those channels at certain times56. For example, channel 2 58 has BATMAN 60 as a show from 1:00 p.m. to2:00 p.m. and SOAP 62 as a show from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. A theme, orchannel, or random, etc. listing can be used instead of the grid guideshown in FIG. 2.

If a grid guide is used, the lineup of channels 52 can be arranged suchthat (1) channels are in numerical and/or alphabetical order, or (2)channels are in an order associated with their particular source, or (3)channels are in a mixed order programmed by a user, or (4) channels arein any other arrangement. When multiple sources are used for receivingtelevision channels, an overlap of channels sometimes occurs. Forexample, both cable and DBS may carry the network ABC, but cable mayhave ABC on channel 6 and DBS may have ABC on channel 7. By having theability to delete and activate the channels displayed in grid guide 50,the user can determine whether to have one of the ABC channels, both ofthe ABC channels, or neither of the ABC channels. The user's choice isentered into coordinator 20 via remote control 32. In an alternativeembodiment, coordinator 20 may automatically note duplicate networknames and delete one of the duplicates. In addition, coordinator 20 iscapable of automatically lining up channels based on user's habits. Ifthis mode for the automatic arrangement of channels is selected by theuser, an algorithm based on user habits is used to determine the channelorder 52. Therefore, any desired arrangement for the lineup of channels52 is available.

In the preferred embodiment, the user displays grid guide 50 by pressinga guide button on remote control 32. Coordinator 20 responds to theinitial pressing of the guide button by automatically tuning to thechannel or device which carries grid guide 50, or overlaying a gridguide in a current broadcast. When the user is done with grid guide 50,the user presses the guide button again (or an exit button) andcoordinator 20 (1) automatically returns to the channel or source lastviewed by the user or (2) removes the overlay. The technique utilized bycoordinator 20 for automatic tuning is described further below.

In order to track which channels are available from which sources, asource identifier is located on each channel. Each of the sourceidentifiers may be included in the channel guide information, or thesource identifiers may be added by the system based on the origin of thechannel guide information. Therefore, if these data are not alreadyprovided, coordinator 20 attaches the appropriate identifiers to thereceived channel guide information. For example, if BATMAN 60 isreceived through IRD box 28, than BATMAN 60 will have a sourceidentifier for identifying the IRD box 28 located on its channel 58. Inthe preferred embodiment, the source identifier is not displayed to theuser. If desired, the user can program coordinator 20 to display whichsource the channel is associated with. For example, channels which comefrom cable box 26 can be colored red in grid guide 50 and channelsavailable from IRD box 28 can be the color green; thus, if desired, theuser can easily identify which source is associated with each channel.

Remote 32 can be utilized by the user to program coordinator 20 or tomove between different channels, times and shows in grid guide 50.Moreover, remote control 32 can be used to select a certain channel orshow (1) for displaying additional information associated with aparticular show, (2) for tuning to a particular channel or show, or (3)for automatically recording a particular show. Remote control 32 canalso be used for adjusting the volume or other features of television 22or other devices. The additional information associated with aparticular show may include a short description of that show. Forexample, a short description of the story included in a sitcom may beprovided. To display this additional information, coordinator 20accesses the desired information in RAM 38 or switches to a differentinput of data, and displays the additional information in an appropriateplace within grid guide 50. In the preferred embodiment, this additionalinformation is displayed (1) in an overlay, or (2) as a pull down windowunder the selected show, or (3) as a defined information window at thetop or the bottom of the screen.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary process flow chart for automatic tuning. To beginautomatic tuning, the user selects a certain channel or show at step 70.The selection may be made by, for example, scrolling a cursor to adesired show and striking the "enter" key, or entering a channel numberusing remote 32. Coordinator 20 then reads the source identifier at step72 and determines if the present input to television 22 is the sourceassociated with the source identifier (see step 74). If the presentinput source to television 22 is the same as the source associated withthe source identifier, then coordinator 20 tunes that particular sourceto the desired channel at step 84. If the present source is not thesource associated with the source identifier, then the system switchessources to the proper source. For example, processor 36 may cause IRemitter 40 to send out a signal which switches from the present source,and which activates or switches to the source associated with the sourceidentifier. The desired channel or show then serves as the sourceinputting information to television 22. Coordinator 20 then determinesif the correct television channel or input for that particular source(the source associated with the source identifier) is activated at step80. If the correct television channel or input is not activated, thenthe appropriate tuner in the system is tuned to the proper channel. Forexample, IR emitter 40 may be used to tune the television to the desiredtelevision channel at step 82. Alternatively, step 80 could be removed,and coordinator 20 would then always tune or re-tune to the requiredchannel, thereby confirming that television 22 is on the correctchannel. After (or simultaneous with) the activation of the correcttelevision channel or input associated with the desired source, IRemitter 40 tunes the receiver in that source to the desired channel atstep 84. The desired broadcast is then displayed on television 22. If aprogram is input to television 22 and/or VCR 24 via coordinator 20 (seeFIG. 1b), then no tuning is needed for the television and/or VCR.Therefore, in this latter arrangement, steps 80 and 82 are not present.

To further illustrate the process set forth in FIG. 3, the followingexample is provided. In this example, IRD box 28 has channels 100-200available and is presently the input source to television 22 (see FIG.1c). Additionally, cable box 26 is an input to IRD box 28 (see FIG. 1c).A user selects BATMAN 60 on channel 2 58 at step 70. The selected showis available on a channel from cable box 26. Coordinator 20 reads thesource identifier associated with the selected show and determines thatchannel 2 is from cable box 26 at step 72. Coordinator 20 thendetermines that the present source is IRD box 28 at step 74. Therefore,a switching of sources must occur. As set forth above, when DBS is nolonger the selected source, IRD box 28 allows cable box 26 to sendsignals through an internal relay (electronic or mechanical) within IRDbox 28 to television 22. Therefore, coordinator 20 utilizes IR emitter40 to deactivate or decouple DBS at step 78. IRD box 28 is inputted totelevision 22 through channel 3 of television 22. In the presentarrangement, cable box 26 is also connected through channel 3 oftelevision 22. Coordinator 20 may then check television 22 to ensurethat it is on channel 3, as required for input from cable box 26 (seestep 80). Since television 22 is already on channel 3, no change is madeto the television channel (see step 84). Coordinator 20 then utilizes IRemitter 40 to tune cable box 26 to the desired channel 2 at step 84. Asstated above, step 82 and step 84 can occur simultaneously. The programon is then displayed on television 22, and the process set forth in FIG.3 is complete. In other embodiments, the television tuner will be usedto select from numerous inputs from the sources, or a mixed system mayprovide that the television tuner is used for some sources, and thesource tuner is used for other sources.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary process flow chart for automatic, unattendedrecording. To begin automatic, unattended recording, the user selects atelevision show for recording with remote 32. In order to provide theautomatic recording of the selected program, VCR 24 is automaticallyturned "on" (along with the activation of the VCR's record feature) atthe appropriate time and then turned "off" when the show is complete.The tuning process used for automatic recording is the same as theprocess set forth for automatic tuning (see FIG. 3), but the VCR istuned to the correct channel rather than the television.

As set forth in FIG. 4, after the user selects a show at step 90, thecoordinator checks to see if the beginning time for that show has passed(see step 92). If the beginning time has not passed, coordinator 20waits at step 94. When the correct time (the program's starting time)does occur, VCR 24 is turned "on" (see step 96) and coordinator 20 actsas though automatic tuning has occurred. Therefore coordinator 20 readsthe source identifier associated with the channel providing the selectedshow at step 72 (see FIG. 3). This transition between the process flowfor automatic recording and the process flow for automatic tuning isindicated by B. During the tuning sequence for automatic recording, theVCR, rather than the television, is tuned to the correct channel (seesteps 80 and 82). When the process flow set forth in FIG. 3 is complete,as indicated by A, coordinator 20 utilizes IR emitter 40 to activate therecording feature of the VCR at step 100 in FIG. 4. This causes VCR 24to record the selected program. Coordinator 20 then checks to see if theend time of the show matches the present time at step 102. If the showis not over, coordinator 20 waits at step 104. When the end time for theshow matches the present time, IR emitter 40 stops recording the showand then turns "off" the VCR at step 106. This scheme allows for theunattended, automatic recording of any show available from any sourcecoupled to VCR 24.

In another embodiment of the present invention, coordinator 20 islocated within IRD box 28, and coordinator 20 handles the switching andtuning required for DBS and cable sources without utilizing an IRemitter. When the user/consumer selects a non-DBS channel from theguide, the coordinator switches from the integrated receiver decoderunit for the satellite to the cable (if the source is originally DBS),and proceeds to tune the television tuner, or television tuner and cablebox to the required channel. If a DBS channel is later selected, thesystem switches back to the integrated receiver decoder unit and tunesto the required DBS channel. This arrangement allows for thecoordinating of multi-sources without the need for an IR emitter.

With the assistance of coordinator 20, a user does not have to manuallyselect a television program source or manually tune to a desired channelor program. Moreover, with the automatic receiving, grid guidegenerating, switching, and tuning available in system 10, there islittle if any manual interaction from the end user or customer.

While a full and complete disclosure of the invention has been providedherein above, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications and changes may be made.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing a consolidated channelguide information listing to a television system, the method comprisingthe steps of:receiving individual channel guide information listingsfrom at least two information sources by a merging system; merging atleast a portion of each of said individual channel guide informationlistings to form the consolidated channel guide information listing;providing the consolidated listing to the television system, wherein theconsolidated listing provided to the television system contains programlistings for at least two signal providing sources, and a signal sourceidentifier for each program listing, each identifier identifying one ofsaid signal providing sources; and thereafter generating a display of atleast a portion of the consolidated channel guide information listing.2. The method of claim 1, wherein said display includes a representationof said signal source identifiers for each program listing in saiddisplay.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said representation includesdisplaying program listings associated with a first one of said signalsource identifiers in a first color, and program listings associatedwith a second one of said signal source identifiers in a second color,said first and second identifiers identifying a different signalproviding source.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing stepincludes the step of transmitting the consolidated listing over at leastone television signal source.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein saidtransmitting step includes the step of relaying the consolidated listingthrough a satellite.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein said televisionsignal source is selected from the group consisting of a cable, abroadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system.
 7. The method ofclaim 4, wherein said at least one television signal source is one ofsaid signal providing sources.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein saidgenerating step includes the step of displaying said display on one of atelevision display screen, a computer monitor and a printed medium. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein said information sources are selectedfrom the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a directbroadcast satellite system, a telephone line, and a keyboard.
 10. Aninformation merging system, comprising:a receiver for receivingindividual channel guide information listings from at least twoinformation sources; a microprocessor coupled to said receiver, saidmicroprocessor merging at least a portion of each of said individualchannel guide information listings into a consolidated channel guideinformation listing; a signal provider, wherein said signal providerprovides said consolidated listing to a television system, wherein saidconsolidated listing provided to said television system contains programlistings for at least two signal providing sources, and a signal sourceidentifier for each program listing, each identifier identifying one ofsaid signal providing sources; and a display generator, coupled to saidtelevision system, for generating a display of at least a portion ofsaid consolidated channel guide information listing.
 11. The informationmerging system of claim 10, wherein said display includes arepresentation of said signal source identifiers for each programlisting in said display.
 12. The information merging system of claim 11,wherein said representation includes displaying program listingsassociated with a first one of said signal source identifiers in a firstcolor, and program listings associated with a second one of said signalsource identifiers in a second color, said first and second identifiersidentifying a different signal providing source.
 13. The informationmerging system of claim 10, wherein said signal provider includes atransmitter coupled to said microprocessor for transmitting saidconsolidated listing over at least one television signal source.
 14. Theinformation merging system of claim 13, wherein said signal providerfurther includes a satellite, wherein said transmitted consolidatedlisting is relayed through said satellite.
 15. The information mergingsystem of claim 13, wherein said television signal source is selectedfrom the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a directbroadcast satellite system.
 16. The information merging system of claim13, wherein said at least one television signal source is one of saidsignal providing sources.
 17. The information merging system of claim10, wherein said display generator is selected from the group consistingof a television display screen, a computer monitor and a printingdevice.
 18. The information merging system of claim 10, wherein saidinformation sources are selected from the group consisting of a cable, abroadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line,and a keyboard.
 19. A method for operating a television system havingmultiple signal providing sources, the method comprising the stepsof:receiving individual channel guide information listings from at leasttwo information sources by a merging system; merging at least a portionof each of said individual channel guide information listings to formthe consolidated channel guide information listing; providing theconsolidated listing to the television system, wherein said consolidatedlisting provided to the television system contains program listings forat least two of the signal providing sources, and a signal sourceidentifier for each program listing, each identifier identifying one ofthe signal providing sources; identifying a specific program from saidconsolidated listing; using said signal source identifier associatedwith said identified specific program to select a signal providingsource from among the signal providing sources; and switching an inputof said television system to said selected signal providing source. 20.The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the step of identifying aspecific program comprises the steps of:displaying said channel guideinformation in the form of a grid; and pointing to said specific programwith an indicator.
 21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein saidmultiple signal providing sources are selected from the group consistingof a cable television source, a satellite source, a DBS source, and anantenna source.
 22. The method as recited in claim 19, furthercomprising the step of tuning a tuner within said television system tosaid specific program.
 23. The method as recited in claim 19, furthercomprising the step of tuning a television to receive said specificprogram from said selected signal providing source.
 24. The method asrecited in claim 19, further comprising the step of tuning a receiver ofsaid selected signal providing source to said specific program.
 25. Themethod as recited in claim 19, wherein said multiple signal providingsources are selected from the group consisting of a plurality of cabletelevision sources, a plurality of satellite sources, a plurality of DBSsources, and a plurality of antenna sources.
 26. The method as recitedin claim 19, wherein said information source is selected from the groupconsisting of a coax cable, a direct broadcast satellite system, atelephone line, a fiber optic cable, a keyboard, and an antenna.
 27. Themethod as recited in claim 19, wherein said consolidated listingincludes program titles for said program listings.
 28. A switchingsystem having multiple signal providing sources, the system comprising:areceiver for receiving a consolidated channel guide information listingfrom an information source, wherein said consolidated listing containsprogram listings for at least two of the signal providing sources, and asignal source identifier for each program listing, each identifieridentifying one of the signal providing sources; a memory, coupled tosaid receiver, for storing said consolidated listing; a display, coupledto said memory, for presenting at least a portion of said consolidatedlisting; a indicator for indicating a specific program from saidpresented portion of said consolidated listing; a controller, coupled tosaid memory, for receiving an indicator signal associated with saidindicated specific program from said indicator, wherein said controllercontrols said switching system; and an emitter, coupled to saidcontroller, for transmitting a control signal, said control signalswitching an input on a television system to one of said multiple signalproviding sources, said one of said multiple signal providing sourcesbeing identified by said signal source identifier associated with saidspecific program, and wherein said control signal tunes said televisionsystem to receive said specific program; wherein said specific programis displayed on said television system.
 29. The switching system ofclaim 28, wherein said emitter transmits a second control signal to aVCR, and said second control signal causes said VCR to record saidspecific program.
 30. The switching system of claim 28, wherein saidmultiple signal providing sources are selected from the group consistingof a cable television source, a satellite source, a DBS source, and anantenna source.
 31. The switching system of claim 28, wherein saidinformation source is selected from the group consisting of a coaxcable, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line, a fiberoptic cable, a keyboard, and an antenna.
 32. The switching system ofclaim 28, wherein said indicator is a remote control unit.